Butterfly Magic

Two acoustic guitars and a fiddle. This piece got its name from my wife. I was out walking our dachshund last week and a butterfly landed on my shoulder and stayed there for close to five minutes before flying off. Di commented "The magic of that butterfly just made my day." Thus, the song title. I went straight home at about 1:30 pm and had the song ready to go before dinner at 6:00 PM. Just now getting a chance to post it. Hope you enjoy its soft ambience. Thanks in advance for listening and leaving any comments you may choose to leave for me. Will get back to every one to reply top your comments as quickly as possible. The state of Di's health has a lot to do with how quickly that might be.

Take care, everyone. Be safe ...

Alan



I removed the bass, drums and piano from the style and added the fiddle. Both guitars got a small amount of reverb plus some additional mid to lower high EQ embellishment. The fiddle got the reverb but no EQ treatment.

Title: _PBALLAD Demo - Pop Ballad with Symphony

File:Butterfly Magic.SGU

Key=Eb , Tempo 85, Length (m:s)=2:49

Song is saved with Volume, Pan, Reverb, Chorus, Bank0,
Song is saved with bar changes for Volume Changes,

Style is _ROMANCE.STY (Dramatic Country Pop)

GuitarCustom Synth is Synth/Plugin Loaded
MelodyCustom Synth is Synth/Plugin Loaded

RealTracks in style: 1036:Bass, Electric, NorthernRockBallad Ev 065 (Deleted)
RealTracks in song: 1947:Mandolin, Rhythm PopModernGrooveAndy Ev16 075 (Deleted)
RealTracks in style: 1595:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking Pop8thsSteady Ev 065
RealTracks in style: ~~2051:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking CountryBrent Ev 085
RealTracks in song: 1760:Fiddle, Background Pop16ths Ev 085 (Added)
RealDrums [in Song:NashvilleBrushesEasyBluegrass: a: Sidestick, Brushes b: Brushes, Stick (Deleted)

The added mids & lows make it sit nicely as a stereo and full freq image. There's an early and a late spot where the fiddle screeched slightly but it's only twice and only slightly.
Lovely garden image listening to this.

Ah, the magic of biab. But only in the hands of a skilled arranger and producer. These soundscape instrumentals that you are so great at are a testament to your musicianship. Again very nicely done, Tom

Alan,

I agree completely with Tom (usually the case).

You are the master BIAB instrumentalist! So good.

Beautiful.

fj

Alan, this made me imagine a slow-speed video capture of that butterfly's flight. I really liked the stops you put in the arrangement. You have a great deal of insight regarding the possibilities of the BIAB styles--you "distilled" the best part of the style--excellent "engineering"! Loved it!

Hi Alan,

What a nice story about that butterfly. And the title is so well chosen by Di.
I could almost see it happening before my eyes. Even more when listening to this beautiful song!
I think it was a good decision to skip the bass, drums and piano. Maybe they would have draw too much attention instead of the melody itself. Whatever, I'm amazed how quick you managed to make this song. You look like me (...).

I agree with Ray that at some moments the violin is a bit harsh. However, I doubt if my wife would have noticed that.

How many butterflies have rested on your head or shoulders since than, Alan?
Or did it stayed a special moment?

Hans

Alan,
How you come up with these progressions? Beautiful tune. Mixed & listens very well. Enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing!

Misha.

P.S. I was doing some yard work last week and a Praying Mantis sat on my head, most likely for a long time, until my son spotted it. I should take your lead and write a tune

Thank you, Ray. I appreciate the very nice comments. Fiddles, much like the flutes in BIAB, are quite often a little hard to tame. But I can run this couple of bars through Audacity again and cut back on the higher EQ. Thanks for the observation.

Best to you. Be safe ...

Alan

Hello Tom ...

You are so very kind with your words. I appreciate all that so much. Best to you. Please be safe ...

Alan

Floyd ...

I think the only thing I'm a master of saying "yes ma'am." immediately after Di tells me something. But that you hold my musical creations in such high esteem is both flattering and humbling. Thank you very much!

Best to you & yours. Be safe ...

Alan

Hi Tano ...

This is one of my favorites reviews/comments I've received in quite some time. You expressed, in your comments, exactly what I was hoping to get across with the music. As I was putting it together, I actually had the same image in my head of the butterfly making a slow-motion descent onto my shoulder and then, moments later, departing in the same manner. It left me with a certain feeling of innocence that's been stolen or abandoned, for a large part, in our modern society. It's very gratifying to know my efforts, apparently, projected the hoped-for result.

Distilled engineering ... a unique and wonderful compliment. Thank you very much!!!

Wishing you the very best. Please be safe ...

Alan

Hello Hans ...

Thank you so much for your kind review! I originally included those extraneous instruments you mentioned. I then deleted them and listened again. I liked it much better with just the three I kept. There aren't a lot of butterflies here in Northern Alabama, so having experienced that event was pretty special. I've seen but two butterflies since then, but they were both five or six meters distant from me.

Fiddles tend to be squeaky as part of their musical character and the squeaks are difficult to avoid. But i can smooth them out a little more. Thanks for the suggestion ... you too, Ray!

wishing you everything good, Hans. Be safe ...

Alan

Misha ...

First, I loved that photo of you with the praying Mantis om your head ... that's really cool!

As far as chord progressions, that's the easiest part of the composition for me. Chords, and the possible arrangements, seem to just percolate in my brain. I practice guitar at least an hour every day, except when circumstances prohibit. About half of those practice sessions consist of me experimenting with chords and arrangements. It's always a lot of fum for me. I cannot explain how or why the chords come to me as they do ... I just accept and appreciate that it happens for me. Thus, I try to incorporate them into my music as I'm composing and/or arranging.

Many thanks, my friend! Wishing you the best. Be safe ...

Alan

Nice backstory, nature is full of inspiration and butterflies are mysterious Beautiful sounding band, has autumnal magic, the guitars express the interesting chord progression very well - I like how the major and minor chords are in a balance, when the song is going to sad direction, it goes up and flies happily again reflecting the moods of the butterfly. The fiddle gives the pop tune bit classical feeling, but without losing the catchiness of the melody.

Janne

Beautiful piece Alan. Loved the violin. Really nice listen

Hi Janne ...

That's a really nice review! Thank you so much for the nice comments. And you have perfectly interpreted my intentions with the music. Again, many thanks.

Best to you. Be safe ...

Alan

Hi Scott ...

That is really kind of you to say. I'm delighted you enjoyed your listen. Thank you for letting me know! Wishing you the very best. Please be safe ...

Alan

A sweet story and a sweet melody.

That we should all be so aware of wonder and so talented at setting it to music.




p.s. I love the fiddle RT's in BIAB:)

We love butterflies, often photograph them and enjoy just watching them.

All meaning that this lovely composition rest right square in our collective wheelhouse.

It flows like a gentle brook and speaks volumes to the power of BiaB in talented hands.

Simply beautiful.

Kudos!

J&B

The best kind of inspiration, something that makes somebody's day! By now we all know this software is magic, but it just keeps enchanting, especially when coaxed so well! Nice job, Al!

Good early Morning ...

Thank you so much. I appreciate the kind words. And yes, the fiddle RTs a sweet! I'm particularly fond of the Alison Kraus RT.

Wishing you the very best. Take care and be safe ...

Alan

Howdy, Folks!

Yes, butterflies are fabulous! They define "gentle grace". I'm delighted this resonates with you. BIAB is such a fabulous software package. I've probably figured out no more than 10% of its capabilities. Still working on it!

Best to you. Stay safe ...

Alan

Hi TM ...

So nice of you to leave such wonderful comments. I appreciate them very much. I get inspiration from a multitude of sources, but this one was from Di's (my wife) comment. Many thanks for the listen and kindness.

Wishing you the very best. Be safe ...

Alan

We like Butterflies. They like what we do. I like the song.



Cheers,

Billy

Hello Al-David,

Superb arrangement. The violin and the guitars go together wonderfully. The mix is ​​impeccable. Instrumentalist, I say it's a great success. Thank you. I really enjoyed it.

Kindly regard

Dero13
Alias JaniJackFlash

Thanks a bunch, Billy ... love that photo! I appreciate your time to listen and comment so very nicely. Take care and be safe ...

Alan

Hello!

Thank you so much. I truly appreciate your kindness. Thank you so much for letting me know you enjoyed it. I have quite a few of the guitar & violin compositions ... I'm guessing 12 - 15, 5 of which I've previously posted here.

Again, many thanks. wishing you the best. Be safe ...

Alan

Very nice, Alan! You are a master at this sort of thing I think.

Nice progression, lovely melody and arrangement, enjoyed!

Alan,
I missed the earlier version but can`t imagine this with anything other than that lovely fiddle and crisp guitars.
Simply beautiful music... from a moment of connection with nature!

Robert

Nice changes, pleasant listen.

Really can't ask much more from an instrumental!

Alan,

Very pretty instrumental, wonderfully put together. The fiddle really resonates. Nicely done!

All my best,

Deej

A lovely instrumental!! As others have said, you have the ability to make these great tracks do wonderful things!! LOVE THIS!! Take care. Greg